Polsinelli never lets up for Guilderland

Senior midfielder crucial to his team's lacrosse success

Updated 2:50 pm, Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli, center, during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli, center, during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their lacrosse game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Guilderland senior midfielder Stephen Polsinelli during their lacrosse game against Shaker on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

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Guilderland's Stephen Polsinelli and Shaker's Billy Blatter battle for the ball during their boy's high school lacrosse game on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Guilderland's Stephen Polsinelli and Shaker's Billy Blatter battle for the ball during their boy's high school lacrosse game on Tuesday May 14, 2013 in Latham, N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Photo: Michael P. Farrell

Polsinelli never lets up for Guilderland

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Guilderland

A four-year varsity boys' lacrosse player, Guilderland senior Stephen Polsinelli nearly missed out on working his way to becoming one of the top midfielders in the area.

Polsinelli began playing lacrosse when he was five years old, but quit for two years in order to play another sport.

"I tried baseball," Polsinelli said, "and I ended up hating it."

Fortunately for the Dutchmen, Polsinelli returned to playing lacrosse.

He joined varsity as a ninth-grader, becoming the youngest Guilderland player in head coach Sean McConaghy's nine years running the program to make the team.

"We've had him for four years, so it's been great to watch him grow up as a man and as a lacrosse player," McConaghy said. "He never comes off the field, which is rare these days for a midfielder."

Polsinelli has always been a midfielder and enjoys the number of responsibilities that go along with the position.

"You do all the dirty work," he said. "I just like playing offense, defense, (getting) ground balls ... doing everything."

Polsinelli became a starter his sophomore season and summed up his time spent playing for the program in one word.

"Rewarding," he said.

"I have great coaches and I have great teammates."

Polsinelli totaled 35 points as a junior, and has registered 31 goals and 15 assists in 2013.

"He's quick and he's strong," McConaghy said. "He doesn't really get beat on defense. I think that's the best part of his game."

In addition to his coaches and teammates, playing against difficult competition in the Suburban Council has helped Polsinelli further improve on his game.

"There are some guys on (the Suburban teams) that are really, really good and they definitely challenge me and bring my game to another level," he said.

Next season, Polsinelli will suit up for a squad close to home in 2014 as he signed to play for Siena.

"My parents wanted me to stay close and I kind of wanted to stay close too," he said.

A number of schools were in the mix, but Polsinelli narrowed it down to Siena and Marist before ultimately deciding on the Saints.

"It's a good team, good academics ... just the right fit," he said.

"They are a good program," McConaghy said. "I'm psyched I get to see him play four more years."

In the final game before Section II Tournament play begins, Guilderland (10-6, 9-5 league) dropped a 10-4 decision to host Shaker in a Suburban Council matchup on Tuesday.

"(We need to) just try to get better," said Polsinelli, who finished with an assist. "We just got beat pretty bad, but hopefully we can come out with upsets and make it to that sectional championship."

"He needs to take this team as far as he can in sectionals," McConaghy said. "All the other parts are important and will follow."